Audio speaker installations



May 19, 1970 s. c. ANASTIN 3,512,606

I AUDIO SPEAKER INSTALLATIQNS Filed Feb. 5, 1969 JZZorm ys.

1 [ZZZ/61662012 Samei Cha-s'z zkz United States Patent US. Cl. 181-31 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A speaker console having a grilled opening in the top and one in front. The walls of the console have a lining of paper substance treated with an oil for softening console vibrations. A low-frequency cone-type speaker is mounted on and directed upwardly from the bottom of the console; and a tone-chamber of inverted-cup shape is mounted on the speaker. The tone chamber rises into the top of the console and has rim attached to that-of the speaker. The top of the tone chamber has a large opening containing a screen; and a high-frequency speaker is attached with its mouth to the underside of the screen. The speakers receive suitable wiring from an instrument (not shown).

My invention relates to audio speakers, and more particularly to those installed in consoles. The practice in console installation has been to arrange speakers of different frequencies in laterally-spaced relation for emitting sound forwardly or laterally from the console, the speakers performing independently. The purpose in providing a plurality of speakers of difierent frequencies has been to reproduce both the low and the high notes in music to a maximum extent with a blending effect. While these objects have been attained with more or less success subject to the acoustical quality of the console, tonal defects in the speakers themselves have injected harshness, shrill sounds and metallic effects into the blended music. Owing to this condition, which often impairs the quality of music reproduced by conventional speaker systems, it is the main object of the present invention to provide a speaker installation which suppresses undesirable sounds emitted by the speakers, and imparts a wholesome quality to the blended music issuing from the console.

A further object is to combine a pair of speakers one of low and the other of frequency-with an intermediate tone chamber which softens harsh sounds emitted by the large speaker and rounds out shrill sounds emitted by the smaller one.

Another object is not only to encase the speaker in a console which forms an acoustical environment for the speaker, but also to include an oil-impregnated lining for the walls of the console which lends softness to instrumental music comparable to the human voice.

An additional object is to employ simple and inexpensive means for accomplishing the foregoing objects.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a console suitable for the novel speaker installation;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section showing the units installed in the console; and

FIG. 3 is a view of a modification, partly in section.

Referring specifically to the drawing, denotes a speaker console of conventional form and having an opening 11 in front and anothermarked 12in the top; and these openings have grille or fabric screens 15 in conformity with conventional practice.

A speaker of large size and low frequencycommonly called a woofer-is mounted on a suitable support 21 in the bottom of the console, the direction of the speaker being upward.

For the purpose of the invention the speaker 20 is surmounted by a tone chamber 25 of inverted cup form and rising into the upper part of the console; and the tone chamber has openings 26 for tone emission, as found in the top of string instruments, such openings also helping to break up booming sound effects. The speaker and the tone chamber may be flanged as shown at 20a and 25a, respectively, for the application of securing means 27 to hold the speaker and tone chamber together; or, other suitable means may be employed to join these units. The tone chamber 25 is preferably of wood into which a filler of linseed oil or olive oil has been rubbed. This treatment softens the vibrations of the tone chamber to emit music comparable to the human voice.

The top of the tone chamber 25 is made with a large opening 25b filled by a sturdy wire mesh screen 28; and the latter forms a support for a speaker 30 of high frequency-commonly called a tweeterwhich is directed upwardly. Sounds developed in the console are designed to issue by way of the frontal opening 11, while those issuing from the speaker 30 pass through the top opening 12. The console 10 is preferably made of wood for acoustical resonance; and the walls of the console receive an internal lining 3.2 of paper substance-pr similar material-Which is impregnated with linseed oil if desired for softening the vibrations of the console walls. These are also rubbed with linseed oil to further soften such vibrations. The speakers receive suitable wiring 35 from an instrumentnot shown-served by the speaker console.

A modification of the above installation is shown in FIG. 3. In this form of the invention the speaker 30 also receives a tone chamber 40 in the manner of the speaker 20, or one of even smaller size, as indicated by dotted lines. The rim of the smaller speaker may be cemented or otherwise attached to the cone of the speaker for support.

It is significant that a cone-type speaker emits sound both in the forward and rearward directions. Therefore in the present case the rearward sounds fill the console with low notes which often create full or booming effects. However, the forward sounds, which in the present case rise into the tone chamber, are reflected to blend with the sounds in the console and neutralize the booming tendencies. Low frequency depth is maintained, however, and softened by the paper-lined walls of the console to lend music a quality comparable to the human voice, Sounds rising from the tone chamber 25 blend with those emitted by the upper speaker 30 to produce total effects which are rich in depth, tonality and overtones; likewise, sounds projected downwardly from the speaker 30 will blend with those in the tone chamber with rounded and resonant effects. The added tone chamber of the modification subdues the shrillness and metallic effects of very high notes. Rasping sounds in the speakers themselves may also be eliminated by impregnating the cones thereof with linseed oil. A final advantage lies in the simplicity of the installation and the use of units which may be produced at reasonable cost.

I claim:

1. An audio speaker installation comprising a console, a low-frequency speaker in the bottom of the same, a high-frequency speaker in the top of the console, and a tone chamber between the speakers.

2. The structure of claim 1, the low-frequency speaker directed upwardly, and the tone chamber being of inverted-cup shape and attached with its rim to that of the low-frequency speaker.

3. The structure of claim 1, the tone chamber being of inverted-cup shape With a screen in its'top, and the high-frequency speaker supported by the screen.

4. The structure of claim 1, the tone chamber being of inverted-cup shape with an opening in its top containing a screen, and the high-frequency speaker directed upwardly with its rim attached to the under side of the screen.

5. The structure of claim 1, the console having a screened frontal opening.

6. The structure of claim 1, the console having a screened top opening.

7. The structure of claim 1, and an oil-impregnated lining of paper substance for the Walls of the console.

4 of inverted-cup form, and the console having a top opening above'the high-frequency speaker. r

9. The structure of claim 1, the speakers being directed upwardly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,170,538 2/1965 Detrick 181-31 3,326,321 6/1967 Valuch 181-31 3,327,808 6/ 1967 Shaper 181--3 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,192,636 4/ 1959 France.

8. The structure of claim 1, the tone chamber being 15 STEPHEN J. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,512,606 May 19, 1970 Samuel C. Anastin It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 3, "6723" should read 4723 Signed and sealed this 29th day of December 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, IR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Ir.

Attesting Officer 

